Pakistan U-19s enter tri-series cricket final

LAHORE: Pakistan qualified for the Under-19 cricket tri-series final when they trounced UAE by 191 runs in the fifth match at the ICC Cricket Academy Ground in Dubai on Friday.

Half-centuries by Farhan Yousuf, Haroon Arshad, Shahzaib Khan and Usman Khan helped Pakistan to win this encounter.

In the final, Pakistan will take on Afghanistan on November 28 at the same venue.

This was Pakistan’s second successive win over UAE in the tournament after beating them by 10 wickets in the opening match.

After opting to bat first, Pakistan scored 314 for five in 50 overs – their best score in the series. The left-handed opening pair of Shahzaib Khan and Usman Khan continued their fine form, knitting a 96-run partnership for the first wicket.

Usman (50) and Shahzaib (71) made fluent half-centuries. Following the duo’s departure, Farhan Yousaf (63) and Haroon Arshad (54) added 75 runs for the fourth wicket. Faham-ul-Haq chipped in with 37 off 48 balls, which included one four and two sixes. For UAE, Noorullah Ayubi and Uddish Suri bagged two wickets apiece.

In reply, UAE suffered a top-order collapse as they were reduced to 52 for five in 16 overs. At that stage, Ayaan Misbah (17) and Suri (32 not out) added a 21-run partnership for the sixth wicket before Misbah got out to Umar Zaib in the 26th over.

UAE were eventually dismissed for 123 in the 37th over. Naveed Ahmed Khan bagged three wickets, while Umar ended with figures of four for 51.

The last group match of the tri-series will be played between Afghanistan and UAE on Sunday (tomorrow).